VICTORIA, the Queen of England, in her kind (gracious) thoughtfulness of the Chiefs and Hapus of New Zealand, and her desire to preserve to them their chieftainship and their land, and that peace and quietness may be kept with them, because a great number of the people of the poeple of her tribe have setteld in this country, and (more) will come, has thought it right to send a chief (an officer) as one who will make a statement to (negotiate with ) Maori people of New Zealand. Let the Maori chiefs accept the governorship (KAWANATANGA) of the Queen over all parts of this country and the islands. Now, the Queen desires to arrange the governorship lest evils should come to the Maori poeple and the Europeans who are living here wihtout law. Now, the Queen has been pleased to send me, William Hobson, a Captain in the Royal Navy to be Governor for all places of New Zealand which are now given up to the Queen. And she says to the Chiefs of the Confederation of the Hapus of New Zealand and the other chiefs, these are the laws spoken of.

The First ArticleThe Second ArticleThe Third ArticleThe
Forth Article
The Chiefs of the The Queen of This is the Two churchman,
Confederation, and England agrees and arrangement for the catholic Bishop,
all these chiefs who consents (to give) consent to the Popallier and the
have not joined in to the Chiefs, governorship of the Anglican mission
that Confederation hapus, and all the Queen. The Queen William Colenso
give up to the Queen people of New will protect all recorded a
of England for ever Zealand the full the Maori people of discussion onwhat
all the Governorship Chieftainship New Zealand and we would call
(KAWANATANGA) of (RANGATIRATANGA) of give them the same religious freedom
their lands. their lands, their rights as those of and customary law
villages and all the people of In answer to a
their possessions England. William direct question
(taonga: everything Hobson, Consul and from Pompallier,
that they held Lieutenant Governor Hobson agreed to
precious) but the Now, we the Chiefs the following
chiefs give to the of the statement. It was
Queen the Confederation of read to the meeti
purchasing of those the Hapus of New before any of the
pieces of land Zealand, here chiefs had signed
which the owner is assembled at the Treaty. E me
willing to sell, Waitangi, and we ana te Kawana ko
subject to the the Chiefs of New ngi whakapono ka
arranging of Zealand, seeing the toa o Ingarani o
payment which will meaning of these ngi Weteriana o
be agreed to by words and accept Roma me te riteng
them and the them, and we agree Maori hoki a
purchaser who will to all of them, tiakina ngatahiti
be appointed by the here we put our e ia. Translatio
Queen for the names and marks. The Governor say
purpose of buying that the several
for her. faiths (beliefs) of
England, of the
Wesleyans,of Rome
and also Maori
customs shall ali
be protected by him.

The Treaty of Waitangi

(English Version)

Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, regarding with Her Royal Favour the Native Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand, and anxious to protect their just Rights and Property, and to secure to them the enjoyment of Peace and Good Order, has deemed it necessary, in consequence of the great number of Her Majesty's Subjects who have already settled in New Zealand, and the rapid extension of Emigration both from Europe and Australia which is still in progress, to constitute and appoint a functionary properly authorised to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of Her Majesty's sovereign authority over the whole or any part of those islands. Her Majesty, therefore, being desirous to establish a settled form of Civil Government with a view to avert the evil consequences which must result from the absence of the necessary Laws and Institutions alike to the Native population and to Her Subjects, has been graciously pleased to empower and authorise me, william Hobson, a Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, Consul, and Lieutenant-Governor of such parts of New Zealand as may be, or hereafter shall be ceded to Her Majesty, to invite the confederated and independent Chiefs of New Zealand to concur in the following Articles and Conditions.

ARTICLE THE FIRST. The Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand, and the separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the Confederation, cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England, absolutely and without reservation, all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said Confederation or Individual respectively exercise or possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to possess over their Territories as the sole Sovereigns thereof.

ARTICLE THE SECOND. Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand, and to the respective families and individuals thereof, the full, exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates, Forests, Fisheries, and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess, so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and Individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of pre-emption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate, at such prices as may be agreed upon between the respective Proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf.

ARTICLE THE THIRD. In Consideration thereof, Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to the Natives of New Zealand Her Royal protection, and imparts to them all Rights and Privileges of British subjects.

W. HOBSON, Lieutenant-Governor

Now, therefore, We, the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand, being assembled in congress at Victoria, in Waitangi, and We, the Separate and Independent Chiefs of New Zealand claiming authority over the Tribes and Territories which are specified after our respective names, having been made fully to understand the Provisions of the foregoing Treaty, accept and enter into the same in the full spirit and meaning thereof: In witness of which, we have attached our signatures or marks at the places and the dates respectively specified.

Done at Waitangi, this sixth day of February, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.